Folding berry box



May 24, 1949. J. GAGNON FOLDING BERRY BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1947 IN VEN TOR JAMs'G AqNoN Aitq.

May 24, 1949. GAGNQN 2,471,147

FOLDING BERRY BOX Filed Sept. 8, 1947 2 She ets-Sheei; z

INVENTOR JAMES C|AQNON Al'ly.

Patented May 2 4 4949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BERRY 'BOX J ames Gagnon, Olalla, Wash.

Application September 8, 1947, Serial No.772g81'0 2 Claims.

This invention relatesto .folding berry boxes of the class wherein the box is folded or collapsed during transportationand storage to conserve space, but is opened out into normal berry box form when it is to be used to contain fruit.

Although foldin berry .boxes of varying design are known to the-art, these uniformly have been provided with false bottoms, i. e. bottoms at a plane above that of the lower margins of the sides of the box. Since during recent years the commercial use of such boxes has been prohibited in many localities, it is the principal object of the present invention toprovide a folding berry box wherein the bottom is at substantially the same level as the lower margins of the sides of the box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a folding berry box of simple, strong and durable construction.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a berry box that may be folded in compact form for storage or shipment, but which may readily be opened out into normal box form when ready for use.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a folding berry box which may be locked or fastened in the open-position to prevent collapse during use.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be apparent from the following specification and claims, considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the folding berry box of the invention in folded or collapsed position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the folding berry box of the invention in folded position, the sides being slightly separated better to show the details of the construction;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the folding berry box of the invention in open position, illustrating particularly the manner in which the bottom of the box is positioned;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the folding berry box of the invention in open position;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the folding berry box of the invention in another of its embodiments, wherein the support for the bottom of the box is of modified construction;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of the folding berry box of the invention in still another of its embodiments;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary isometric view of the folding berry box of the invention in an embodiment similar to that of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the foldin berry box of the invention in the embodiment illustrated in Figure '7.

Broadly stated, the folding berry box of the invention comprises aplurality of sides .hingedly or flexibly connected to each other and adapted to be folded flat-wise, a bottom attached at one of its ends to one of the sides and hinged at a point substantially on the ,plane of .the lower margin of the sides, and-meansfor supporting the free endof'the bottom on substantially the same plane as theattached end thereof.

As is apparentfroma consideration of Figures 1 to 5, the sides of the box of the invention in one of its embodiments-are formed from a strip of suitable material, e. g. wood-or pasteboard,cof substantially uniform width .and transversely scored or hinged at predetermined intervals to permit folding and thus tosdefine the horizontal dimensions of the box. This forms the-side! to which is attached the bottom, two parallel sides II, -II and theside I2. The ends of the strip forming the sides areheld together in. any suitable manner, as by overlapping them and fastening them with staples I 3.

The bottom I4 of the'box'is fabricated from the same or :similar material 'asLis used inthe construction ofithe sides. vItis fastened torthe side Ill, and is hinged or scoredrto' permit bending at substantially the plane :of the .lower margin of the'sides. It preferably'is' somewhat narrower than the width of thebox, so that ventilating space is left between the sideedges of the bottom and the sides I I,-II of the box. The free end of the bottom may terminate a'djacent theside "I2 or, preferably, it may-be hinged'or scored and bent to form the upturned end portion I5, which serves a reinforcing function.

The free end of the bottom of the box is supported in one embodiment (Figures 1-4) by means of the support or bracket I6, This is an elongated member made from wire or similar strong, structural material. It is attached at the top of the box, preferably by fashioning its extremities into hooks adapted to extend over and around the top of the side I2. The intermediate portion is bent to form a section which extends outwardly from the wall I2, thus forming a bracket upon which rests the free end of the bottom of the box. The bracket, like the hinged portion of the bottom attached to the rear wall I0, is at substantially the level of the lower margins of the sides.

An alternate means of supporting the bottom of the folding berry box of the invention is illustrated in Figure 5. This comprises th U-shaped support I'I attached to the parallel sides II, II. Like the bracket I6, the support member I1 is attached at the top of the sides, preferably by means of integrally formed hooks clasped over the top of the sides. This type of support has the advantage of imparting enhanced stability to the bottom of the box, since the transverse portion underlies and supports the entire width of the bottom strip.

Still another modification of the folding berry box of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 8. In this embodiment, as in the foregoing embodiments, the box comprises sides formed by transversely scoring or hinging at predetermined intervals a strip of wood or other structural material. This forms a back side 20, the two parallel sides 2|, 2|, and a forward side 22. The ends of the side-forming strip are fastened together by suitable means, as by staples 23. The bottom 24 of the box is attached to the side 20 and is hinged or scored and bent at a point substantially on the plane of the lower margins of the sides. It is provided with the upturned end 25 which is of substantially the same height as the side 22, and which serves to support the bottom while at the same time reinforcing the box.

The bottom 24 is supported by means of clips 26, attached to the upper portion of the upturned end 25. A single clip may be used for this purpose, as in Figure 6, although it is preferred to employ a plurality of clips, as in Figure '7, in order to impart stability to the bottom. The clips are adapted to extend over and around the upper edge of the side 22. The Weight of the bottom of the box and of the contents thereof thus is transmitted in part to side 22.

Means also are provided for locking the bottom of the box in position in the embodiments shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. Such means comprise the gore-shaped projections 21 struck inwardly from the central portion of the clips and adapted to contact the side 22. By applying pressure to the surface of the clips when in position over the side of the box, the projections are caused to penetrate into the side, thus locking the box in the open position and minimizing the danger of collapse during its use.

There thus is provided a berry box of simple, strong and durable construction which may be folded into compact form for storage or shipment, but which may readily be opened out into normal box form when ready for use. It may, furthermore, be locked in the open position so that it will not collapse. These advantages are achieved '4 while simultaneously providing a box the volume of which is truly indicated by its external dimensions, i. e. a true-volume box. Its use therefore, is permitted under statutes and regulations prohibiting the commercial use of berry boxes with false bottoms.

Having now described my invention in preferred embodiments, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A true-volume folding berry box comprising four sides hingedly connected to each other and adapted to be folded flatwise, a bottom attached at one of its ends to one of said sides and hinged at a point substantially on the plane of the lower margin of said sides, and a wire loop attached at both its ends to the top portion of the side opposite said one of said sides and extending down-- wardly until the bottom portion of the loop is substantially on said plane, said bottom portion being bent substantially normal to said one of said sides and directed theretoward, thereby forming a bracket adapted to support the free end of said bottom substantially on said plane.

2. A true-volume folding berry box comprising 1 four sides hingedly connected to each other and adapted to be folded fiatwise, a bottom hingedly attached at one of its ends to one of said sides, and a U-shaped wire loop the ends of which are attached to opposite sides of said box substantially at the top thereof and which extends downwardly so that the cross-bar of the U is substantially at the plane of the bottom margins of said sides, thereby being adapted to support said bottom substantially at said plane.

JAMES GAGNON.

REFERENCES CITED following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nmnber Name Date 594,562 Royer Nov. 30, 1897 889,651 Alwes June 2, 1908 924,982 Hague June 15, 1909 1,084,140 Fenlason Jan. 13, 1914 1,109,468 Rose Sept. 1, 1914 

